Zirui Liu

Zirui Liu

🔋 About Me

I am currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Power Electronics and Electrical Machines at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. My advisor is Prof. Lei Zuo. My research focuses on electric drives, power electronic systems, and real-time modeling and control of advanced electrical machines for renewable energy and electrified systems.

I received my Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Center for Advanced Electrical Machines & Drives (CAEMD), Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), where I was advised by Prof. Ronghai Qu. My doctoral research centered on real-time electro-thermal parameter identification and nonlinear modeling of permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs), with emphasis on sensorless control, online parameter estimation, and experimental validation.

My current work involves the design, optimization, and control of power electronic converters and electric drives for hybrid wave–current energy harvesting systems, including generator–converter co-design, real-time control implementation, and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) validation. I am particularly interested in high-power-density drive systems, multi-physics modeling, and data-driven methods integrated with physics-based models.

My research outcomes have been published in leading IEEE journals, including IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, and related venues. I also actively serve as a reviewer for multiple IEEE Transactions journals in power electronics, electric machines, and transportation electrification. .

My long-term research goal is to develop efficient, reliable, and intelligent electric drive and power electronic systems for renewable energy, electrified transportation, and emerging energy conversion applications.

Educations
Research Interset
🎓 2019.09 - 2025.06, PhD, Huazhong University of Sci. & Tech. (HUST), Hubei

🎓 2015.09 - 2019.06, Undergraduate, Hunan University, Hunan. GPA: 3.77/4.00 RANK: 2/263
system identification & control
thermal analysis
electrical machine design

⚙️ Skills

Programming: C, Matlab, Python, LaTeX

Tools: Simulink, Embedded Coder, Altium Designer, JMAG, Pspice, CAD

📝 Publications

Part I: Nonlinear Parameter Identification & Control

Part II: AC Machine Position Sensorless Control

Part III: Real-time Thermal Modelling and Temperature Estimation

Others

🔨 Projects

High Temperature, High Power Density Intergated PMSM
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100kW High Temperature Intergated PMSM System

  • Fully integrated oil cooling.

  • Dual margin Controller with SiC MOSSFET power module, total system efficiency is 92%.

  • Operating Ambient Temperature can up to 150 \(^\circ\)C.

  • Total Power Density 4.82 kW/kg (Larger than the latest aerospace SP200D series from Siemens, which power density is 3.8 kW/kg).

1200V Cascaded Multilevel Converter
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1200V Cascaded Multilevel Converter

  • Fundamental Frequency range from 20k to 50kHz.

  • DSP+FPGA framework with optical-fiber communication between master and slave submodules.

  • Forced air cooling.

  • Single Phase Structure with 8 H-bridge submodules based on SiC MOSFET discrete devices.

  • Output voltage up to 1200V AC, maximum output power is 6.5 kW.

12kVA Interleave DC/DC & DC/AC SynRM Controller
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12kVA Interleave Bidirectional DC/DC & Three Phase DC/AC Controller SynRm System for Engine Integrated Stator/Generator

  • Interleave bidirectional DC/DC for synchronous reluctance machine drive and battery charging.

  • 12kVA capacity with a compact Integrated design.

  • Three layer controller & Power electronic drive & Power loop PCB design.

  • Parallel design of multi silicon MOSFET design for cost sensitive application.

Low Voltage 1kW Electrical Pump System
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Low Voltage 1kW Electrical Pump System

  • Integrated design of cooling channel, high speed pmsm and Si MOSFET controller with Metal Additive Manufacturing.

  • 28V 10,000 r/min low voltage high speed SPMSM.

  • Low cost resistor-based phase current sampling with position sensorless control.

  • The system software is fully based on Matlab Embedded Coder Designer .

IPMSM Test Platform for EV application
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IPMSM Test Platform for EV Application

  • 60kW IPMSM Test Platform with back-to-back .

  • Up to 20 Temperature Sensors installed inside different positions inside the controller, stator and rotor.

  • Raspberry Pi 5 function as a semi host computer for real-time thermal modelling and complex algorithm execution.

  • The system software is fully based on Matlab Embedded Coder Designer .

All-in-one Electrical Motor Controller for EV Thermal Control
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All-in-one Thermal Controller for EV Application

  • One 8kW 400~720V IPMSM drive with sensorless control for air compressor.

  • Three 150W, 12V BLDC drive with sensorless control.

  • Five 12W, 12V stepping motor drive.

  • Three 1A, 12V electrical valve.

🏆 Honors and Awards

  • Four times The first prize Scholarship (2018, 2022, 2023, 2024)
  • Three times Merit Student (2016, 2017, 2018)
  • 2017.03 Meritorious Winner in The Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM)
  • 2017.11 The Second prize of Hunan Area in The Undergraduate Electronic Design Contest
  • 2021.11 Outstanding Winner in the Future Smart Car Creative Innovation Competition (The competition prize is 100,000 yuan)

📖 Academic Service

  • Journal Reviewer

IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics

IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification

IEEE Journal of Emerging and Selected Topics in Power Electronics

IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics

  • Conference Reviewer

The 7th International Electrical and Energy Conference 2024 (CIEEC 2024)

The 26th international Conference on Electrical Machines and Systems 2023 (ICEMS 2023)

The 6th International Electrical and Energy Conference 2024 (CIEEC 2023)

The 3rd China International Youth Conference on Electrical Engineering (CIYCEE 2022)